What are the main types of red wine? Body and tannin set the scale. Pinot Noir sits at the light end: silky, with red fruit and bright acidity. Merlot, red blends and Zinfandel sit in the middle, and Syrah leans bold. Cabernet Sauvignon is the bold end, with dark fruit and firm tannin. Sweet, fortified dessert wines close the list. For how grape skins shape color and tannin, see how red wine differs from white.
What makes a red wine light or bold?
Body and tannin decide where a red sits on the scale. Acidity shapes how fresh it tastes. Our guide to wine for beginners covers more of the basics.
- Body. How heavy the wine feels in your mouth. Think of the difference between skim milk and whole milk.
- Tannin. The drying grip on your gums and tongue. It comes mostly from grape skins and seeds, plus oak barrels.
- Acidity. The mouthwatering freshness. High acidity makes a red taste lively, and it helps the wine cut through rich food.
Grapes with thin skins, such as Pinot Noir, give paler wines with soft tannin. Thick-skinned grapes, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, give darker wines with more grip. Ripeness and oak push a wine further toward the bold end. For whites, see our guide to white wine types.
What are the main types of red wine, from light to bold?
This chart runs from the lightest red to the boldest. Each style can vary with the vineyard, the vintage and the winemaker.
| Grape or style | Body | Tannin | Typical flavors | Serve with | ONEHOPE bottle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinot Noir | Light to medium | Low | Strawberry, cherry, cranberry, earth | Salmon, mushrooms, roast chicken | Hospitality Pinot Noir, Reserve Monterey Pinot Noir |
| Merlot | Medium | Medium, soft | Plum, black cherry, cocoa | Roast pork, pasta with tomato sauce | — |
| Red blends | Medium to full | Varies with the grapes | Cherry, berries, spice, oak | Burgers, ribs, lamb | Vintner Red Blend, Field to Table Red Blend |
| Zinfandel | Medium to full | Medium | Jammy berries, black pepper | Barbecue, pizza | — |
| Syrah | Full | Medium to high | Blackberry, black pepper, smoked meat | Grilled lamb, stews | — |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Full | High | Black currant, blackberry, cedar, vanilla | Steak, aged cheddar | Vintner Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Fortified dessert wine | Full and sweet | Varies | Dark plum, dried fruit, toffee | Blue cheese, dark chocolate | Reserve Dessert Wine |
What does Pinot Noir taste like?
Pinot Noir is pale ruby and silky, with soft tannin and bright acidity. Expect red fruit such as strawberry, cherry and cranberry. Many bottles add an earthy note, like mushrooms or forest floor.
The grape has thin skins and likes cooler growing sites. That gives it a lighter color and gentler grip than most reds.
Our 2021 Hospitality Pinot Noir is medium-bodied and balanced. Aromas of ripe strawberry and Bing cherry meet a touch of cinnamon, then a smooth, silky finish. It is an easy red for a weeknight dinner.
The 2022 Reserve Monterey Pinot Noir shows the savory side of the grape. It brings dried cranberry, cherry, sassafras and umami, with textured tannins and a balanced palate. Pour it with cheese and chutney, a cranberry rice salad or a lamb gyro.
Earthy dishes suit Pinot Noir well. Try it with our thyme sautéed mushrooms, where the wine's red fruit balances the butter and herbs.
What does Cabernet Sauvignon taste like?
Cabernet Sauvignon is deep in color and full-bodied, with firm tannin. Expect dark fruit such as black currant and blackberry. Oak aging often adds vanilla, cedar or chocolate notes.
The grape has small berries with thick skins. That gives the wine its color, its grip and its ability to stand up to rich, fatty food.
Our 2023 Vintner Cabernet Sauvignon is bold and approachable. Notes of dark berries and toffee meet hints of vanilla on a rich, smooth palate. We pair it with beef filet, blue cheese and roasted beets.
For those beets, see our roasted beets with horseradish sauce. Roasting brings out their sweetness, and the creamy sauce adds a sharp contrast.
The 2024 Reserve Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is bold and densely structured. It is rich and ripe, with notes of dried herbs, vanilla and chocolate. Serve it with blue cheese stuffed flank steak, braised greens or walnuts.
Pinot Noir vs Cabernet Sauvignon: what is the difference?
Pinot Noir is lighter, with red fruit, soft tannin and bright acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon is fuller, with dark fruit and firm tannin. Neither is better. They suit different dishes and tastes.
| Pinot Noir | Cabernet Sauvignon | |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Pale to medium ruby | Deep purple-red |
| Body | Light to medium | Full |
| Tannin | Low and silky | High and firm |
| Acidity | Bright | Moderate |
| Typical flavors | Strawberry, cherry, cranberry, earth | Black currant, blackberry, cedar, vanilla |
| Serving temperature | About 55 to 60°F | About 60 to 65°F |
| Classic food | Salmon, duck, mushrooms | Steak, lamb chops, aged cheese |
For chilling times and glasses, see our wine serving temperature guide.
Choose Pinot Noir if:
- you prefer a lighter red with soft tannin;
- you are serving salmon, roast chicken, duck or mushroom dishes;
- the table mixes red and white wine drinkers.
Choose Cabernet Sauvignon if:
- you like a full, firm red with dark fruit;
- you are serving steak, braised beef or aged cheddar;
- the dish is rich, grilled or well seasoned.
Where do red blends fit?
Red blends usually sit between the two. A winemaker combines grapes to balance fruit, acidity and tannin. The 2022 Vintner Red Blend is bold and richly layered, with cherry, raspberry, cocoa powder and vanilla. The 2021 Field to Table Red Blend brings dark cherry, smooth oak and spice. Leather and dried rose petals follow on the finish. Our red blend guide covers which grapes go into a blend and why.
How do you match a red wine to food?
Match weight with weight. A light dish suits a light red, and a rich dish suits a fuller one. Fat and protein soften a bold red's tannin. With dessert, the wine should taste at least as sweet as the dish.
Spicy food is the one to watch. Heat makes tannin and alcohol feel stronger, so a softer, fruitier red is the easier match.
What about sweet and fortified red wines?
Most red wines are dry. Fortified dessert wines sit apart at the sweet end. For sweet styles, winemakers add grape spirits partway through fermentation. This stops the fermentation and keeps some of the grapes' natural sweetness.
Our Reserve Dessert Wine is fortified with grape spirits. It brings notes of toffee, florals, dark plum and sweet cherry. It comes in a 375 ml bottle. Serve it in small glasses after dinner.
Pour it with rich cheesecake, dark chocolate truffles or blue cheese. See our wine and chocolate pairing guide and wine and cheese pairing guide for more matches.
For more dishes, from weeknight pasta to grilled fish, see our food and wine pairing chart. Find every bottle above in our red wine collection. ONEHOPE wine gives back.
Frequently asked questions
What is the lightest type of red wine?
Pinot Noir and Gamay are among the lightest reds. Both are pale, with soft tannin, bright acidity and red fruit.
Is Pinot Noir lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon?
Yes. Pinot Noir is usually lighter in color, body and tannin. Cabernet Sauvignon is fuller, darker and firmer.
Is Merlot lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon?
Usually, yes. Merlot tends to be medium-bodied, with softer tannin and plum and black cherry flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon is fuller and firmer.
Which red wine goes with steak?
Cabernet Sauvignon is the usual choice. Its firm tannin meets the fat and protein in the meat, so both taste smoother. Syrah and bold red blends also work.
Which red wine goes with salmon?
Pinot Noir. Its soft tannin and bright acidity suit an oily fish without tasting metallic. A lighter, cooler-served Pinot works well with grilled or roasted salmon.
Should Pinot Noir be served slightly cool?
Yes. Around 55 to 60°F keeps its red fruit fresh. If the bottle has been at room temperature, give it 20 to 30 minutes in the fridge. To keep an open bottle fresh, see how long wine lasts after opening.
Is Cabernet Sauvignon dry?
Yes. Cabernet Sauvignon is almost always a dry wine. Ripe dark fruit and vanilla from oak can seem sweet, but the wine itself is dry. Here is what dry means in wine.
